Testicular Cancer Staging

The following stages are used for testicular cancer:

Stage 0 (Testicular Intraepithelial Neoplasia)

Abnormal cells are found in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. All tumor marker levels are normal. Stage 0 is also called testicular intraepithelial neoplasia and intratubular germ cell neoplasia.

Stage I

Cancer has formed. Stage I is divided into stage IA, stage IB, and stage IS and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomy is done.

Stage 1A

Cancer is in the testicle and epididymis and may have spread to the inner layer of themembrane surrounding the testicle. All tumor marker levels are normal.

Stage 1B

Cancer is in the testicle and the epididymis and has spread to the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the testicle; or

has spread to the outer layer of the membrane surrounding the testicle; or

is in the spermatic cord or the scrotum and may be in the blood vessels or lymph vessels of the testicle.

all tumor marker levels are normal.

Stage 1S

Cancer is found anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or the scrotum and either:

all tumor marker levels are slightly above normal; or

one or more tumor marker levels are moderately above normal or high.

Stage II

Stage II is divided into stage IIA, stage IIB, and stage IIC and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomyis done.

Stage IIA

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen, none larger than 2 centimeters.

All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.

Stage IIB

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and either:

has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen; at least one of the lymph nodes is larger than 2 centimeters, but none are larger than 5 centimeters; or

has spread to more than 5 lymph nodes; the lymph nodes are not larger than 5 centimeters.

All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.

Stage IIC

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

has spread to a lymph node in the abdomen that is larger than 5 centimeters.

All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.

Stage III

Stage III is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IIIC and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomy is done.

Stage IIIA

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and

has spread to distant lymph nodes or to the lungs.

Tumor marker levels may range from normal to slightly above normal.

Stage IIIB

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.

The level of one or more tumor markers is moderately above normal.

Stage IIIC

Cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.

The level of one or more tumor markers is high

or, cancer:

is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and

may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and

has not spread to distant lymph nodes or the lung but has spread to other parts of the body.